*** Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository

[duncan_idaho]

The reign is over. Time to begin the quest for the next one.

Interesting offseason opens for the Royals. Will they go all in for one last shot with this crew? Will they re-tool for 2018 and beyond? Will Dayton Moore actually decrease payroll this time?

Trades, free agent signings, rumors, plans, proposals... dump 'em all here, for this is... the offseason repository!

Royals Top Prospects, 2017

This is a list that’s going to seem a little bleak initially, as Raul Mondesi got enough ABs to age out of the prospect rankings (just barely – at 135 ABs, he is not rookie eligible). But that said, I like the talent and feel like this is a system that will actually be underrated by the prospect services.

Spoiler!

Format: POS/Name/2017 Projected Final Level

1) 3B/OF Hunter Dozier, MLB. Dozier bounced back from a disastrous 2015 campaign that had many wondering, myself included, if he was wrecked. His strong offensive performance in 2016 saw Dozier recapture the mature approach that many liked coming up, while also starting to tap into his above-average raw power for the first time.

In addition to his success at the plate, Dozier also proved he could at least HANDLE an OF spot, which could put him in the conversation for 2017 playing time at the major leagues. If the Royals DO end up trading Cheslor Cuthbert, Dozier could find a decent amount of MLB playing time sliding between RF and 3B. With Moustakas recovering from knee surgery, he likely will need more regular breaks from the field. And the streaky Paulo Orlando is just not an intriguing short-side platoon partner for Jarrod Dyson.

2) LHP Matt Strahm, MLB. Strahm just barely skates under the rookie eligibility rules for a pitcher, so he can be included here. Royals fans already got a taste of the lefty’s abilities, as he used his above-average fastball and slurve to dominate out of the pen in 2016. For him to translate that dominance to the rotation, Strahm will need to maintain his velocity (92-94) and continue to improve a changeup that flashed average at times.

If the changeup becomes a weapon he can lean on against righties, Strahm could be a very solid mid-rotation starter and fringe ToR/No. 2 type (think Danny Duffy-lite).

3) RHP Josh Staumont, AAA. This one could blow up on me and look really silly by this time next year, but I’m encouraged by what we saw from Staumont late last year. He showed significantly improved control down the stretch for Northwest Arkansas, including some impressive playoff starts, while maintaining the big-time K ability. That trend continued in the Arizona Fall League.

If Staumont’s control holds, the Royals have a guy with a plus fastball, plus-plus curve, and average change (with a slider that could develop into a real weapon as he matures). He’ll start next season at AAA and could be an addition to the MLB bullpen or even the rotation before the season ends.

4) RF Jorge Bonifacio, AAA. Boni, like Dozier, had a bounceback season in 2016 with the bat, and also played 15-20 pounds lighter than the year before, which added some nice defensive utility according to reports I’ve gotten. He now looks like a guy could provide solid/average RF production in the major leagues… Average defense paired with potential to put up a .275/.335/.450 line. While that’s not all-star level, it IS playable. Especially at pre-arbitration dollars. He’ll get another year in Omaha to refine his approach, and likely be in the mix of a 2018 mini-youth movement… unless moved for MLB reinforcements.

5) C Meibrys Viloria, Low-A (Lexington). I haven’t seen him in person, but I like the pedigree. You’ve got a lefthanded hitting catcher with the defensive ability to stick behind the plate. He was a big-bonus guy out of Colombia (nearly $500k). And his offensive performance has been highly impressive early, with a good combination of power, plate discipline, and contact skills.

He’s forever away from the majors, just now clearing rookie ball, but Viloria is the most exciting prospect KC has had at Idaho Falls since someone on this board was gushing about a 16-year-old SS tearing it up.

6) 1B Ryan O’Hearn, AAA. O’Hearn is a guy who has never gotten a lot of hype from scouts, but he continues to be a strong producer. He’s someone who likely will strikeout about 25 percent of the time at the big-league level, but has the ability to be a .500+ SLG guy. That plays. He also has shown good patience at the plate, posting above-average OBPs at every level.

Bold prediction: I won’t be shocked if O’Hearn takes over at 1B for KC in 2018/2019 and provides similar offensive production to Hosmer out of the gate. He’s probably never going to be a consistent plus average (.290+) hitter, but .270 with 25 HR is something within reach for him. He’ll get his first shot at AAA in 2017.

7) RHP AJ Puckett, A+. Puckett is a high floor, low-ceiling guy who performed about as you’d expect in 2016 after being the Royals’ first pick in the 2016 Rule IV Draft. He’s not flashy, but Puckett does profile as a solid potential back-end starter. Good fastball command and an above-average changeup are his calling cards. If Puckett finds a reliable breaking ball to put batters away, this could tick up. Great athlete, very similar to Jake Odorizzi in that regard.

8) RF Khalil Lee, Low-A (Lexington). Lee was a two-way player in HS and many viewed him as a pitcher first as a pro, but the Royals drafted him as an OF and were reward with a strong debut campaign. Lee is not a big guy, but he produced solid power numbers despite that. He’s a dynamic athlete who could contribute with power and speed.

9) C Chase Vallot, High-A (Wilmington). Vallot has an intriguing bat, with plus raw power. Got off to a great start in 16 before being sidelined and then sidetracked by injury. RH bat may be good enough to push him out from behind the plate, where he has good tools but a long way to go.

10) RHP Jake Junis and RHP Alec Mills (AAA). I'm copping out here and including both at No. 10 because they're so similar. Like Puckett, they each project as a serviceable back of rotation starter. Similar stuff and profiles, though Junis has shown a little better strikeout ability and may have a smidge more upside as a result.

Others of note:

SS/CF Marten Gasparini. Production has been bad for this toolsy player, but Gasparini has speed and pop that jump out at you. At only 19, need to be patient with him... this European signee was even less polished when signing at 16 than the typical Latin America prospect.

OF Seuly Matias. Loud, loud tools. Matias profiles as a classic RF... big-time power potential. He's a long ways from the majors but is one of the Royals' biggest bonus babies from LA.

RHP Ashe Russell. 2014 1st rounder saw his velocity disappear last year and was quickly shut down. He's intriguing one way or the other, even if he ends up as another notch in the belt of the TINSTAAPP saying.

2B Corey Toups. O'Hearn's HS teammate has been an above-average producer for an up-the-middle player. His small stature hides a surprising amount of pop. Could turn into a Mark Grudzielanek type of offensive second baseman at his peak - solid average, lots of 2Bs.

RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Foster Griffin, RHP Nolan Watson - all three have underwhelmed as pros but were drafted in the supplemental round. Stuff and projectability for each is a positive. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of them take a Cody Reed-like step forward this season and crack the 50-75 range on prospect lists. They all have the natural ability.

SS/2B Ricky Aracena - Jose Altuve-sized Aracena is a switch hitting middle infielder who can flat out run. Switch hitter with a good approach.

RHP Pedro Fernandez - I'm still a believer in his stuff, even if he is destined for the pen. Was having a nice 2016 start until injuries derailed him right after his promotion to AA.

Sirs not Appearing in this Prospect List:

RHP Kyle Zimmer. Same story, different year. The Royals are hopeful they FINALLY found the cause of Zimmer's achy shoulder. If they really did, and he can stay healthy, the talent/potential is exciting.

OF Bubba Starling. Never trust a guy named Derek.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

In all fairness, GMDM built the team, not Ned.

But Ned DOES seem to really know how to manage a clubhouse, keep guys loose, and the players do all seem to genuinely love playing for him. That counts for a lot, as far as I'm concerned.

Yep, totally agree. Going off of my previous posts, Ned's problem in Milwaukee was that he was doing the absolute opposite of what he has done since he got to KC. Sure, it infuriates some that he shows the loyalty that he does on the field to particular players. He has never once thrown a player of his under the bus and he takes all of the bullets from the fans and media.

Ned Yost is the managerial example of being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Yep, totally agree. Going off of my previous posts, Ned's problem in Milwaukee was that he was doing the absolute opposite of what he has done since he got to KC. Sure, it infuriates some that he shows the loyalty that he does on the field to particular players. He has never once thrown a player of his under the bus and he takes all of the bullets from the fans and media.

Ned Yost is the managerial example of being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

Funnily enough, Ned was similar to the guy many Royals fans were clamoring for while he was with the Brewers.

He eviscerated players for not running out grounders, held players completely accountable in press conferences, but also had contentious clubhouses during both of MIL's September collapses over his last two seasons.

[Hootie]

we've gotten really lucky for years now when it comes to converting failed starters into hoss relievers ... before Hochevar TJ'd himself, he had an outstanding, sensational year as the 8th inning guy - then, when he TJ'd himself, we discovered Wade Davis.

Dayton really Ned proofed the bullpen during our run. This year, it seems like we have Kelvin Herrera. Be really interesting to see if get back to having Ned run out Aaron Joakim Crow Soria to lose us game after game without trying to figure something else out all year long.

I'm more of a Maddon kind of guy - he got to the postseason, trusted NOBODY but Chapman ... and took a lot of grief for it because Chapman wore down. So I see what tk13 means when he says you can't just rely on guys like the borgs to throw 5 innings every game ... but, the way I look at it ... in the postseason, if we're going to lose, why not lose with Wade Davis opposed to Jeremy Guthrie?

that's why I was NEVER mad at Ned for pulling Shields to put in Yordano against Moss in that Wild Card game. The hindsight heroes were LIVID. I liked the move, and even said before that game, I thought Yo should be available from the pen. I always thought Yo projected to be more of a Aroldlis than a Pedro. Sad, because with Hammel and Wood I really think Yo could have been our new 8th inning badass Wade Davis. Or keep Herrera in that role and put Yo at closer.

Dude was built to be that elite closer we all love.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Romosexual

that's why I was NEVER mad at Ned for pulling Shields to put in Yordano against Moss in that Wild Card game. The hindsight heroes were LIVID. I liked the move, and even said before that game, I thought Yo should be available from the pen. I always thought Yo projected to be more of a Aroldlis than a Pedro. Sad, because with Hammel and Wood I really think Yo could have been our new 8th inning badass Wade Davis. Or keep Herrera in that role and put Yo at closer.

Dude was built to be that elite closer we all love.

What angered me was putting in a 23 year old starter (especially one as emotional as Yo) during that situation. Yo had thrown over 70 pitches two days before, and was brought out of the pen with two runners on, no out, in the first playoff (and elim) game of his career.

I'm more okay with the move if Yo had a clean inning and a quick hook to Kelvin at the first sign of trouble, but I thought Ned just needed to swallow his "Kelvin is for the 7th" belief and give Kelvin two innings starting with the 6th.

Luckily, he was much more willing to do this throughout the rest of that postseason.

[Hootie]

well Moss was basically dead ... from what I remember, he had a pretty severe hip injury ... suggesting he was having trouble turning on pitches (so, of course, Shields gave him a meatball changeup to jack 530 ft) ... so, they put in a guy that threw 100 and said, good luck ... and he jacked that, too

I liked Yo in that situation ... obviously I was wrong, but I don't play the role of hindsight hero, so I don't jump on Ned for things that don't work out in scenarios I'd have made the same move

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Romosexual

I liked Yo in that situation ... obviously I was wrong, but I don't play the role of hindsight hero, so I don't jump on Ned for things that don't work out in scenarios I'd have made the same move

This is why I'm not angry at Ned about putting in Madson during Game 6. The move didn't make sense to me at the time, but after listening to his rationale I understood the thought behind the move.

I was livid when he brought in Yo (again, I'd have been more understanding had it been a clean inning) and thought the obvious move was to bring in Herrera (which he ended up doing any way). I've forgiven him for the move. I understand he wanted Yo's velocity in that situation, but if velocity was his goal, why not, as Pedro suggested, bring in Kelvin? Kelvin would have been much more used to that situation, was better rested, and could throw the same fire as Ventura.

I don't agree with his rationale, but I understand why Ventura offered value coming from the pen. I just don't think that was the right situation to make that move.

[duncan_idaho]

I get what they were trying to do with Soria - they thought he could step into the Madson role - but it just didn't work. Hopefully he turns a corner, because they're stuck with him.

I think Yost did learn some lessons with Soria and Strahm late last season and hope to see him use those two appropriately (Of course, this precludes the possibility of a sophomore slum from Strahm).

Soria can be a solild 7th inning guy if he bounces back. He just can't be slotted in between the Royals two nastiest late-inning guys.

I think the odds are good KC finds a good fourth option from the reclamation projects (Withrow is my favorite, if he can find that knockout slider again). Albuquerque, League, Maness offer enough options I'm confident they'll find a good piece from somewhere amongst that group, and I really think if Mr. Glass (Kyle Zimmer, not David or Dan) makes it through ST healthy, he's going to be in KC's bullpen.

A healthy Zimmer would be an absolutely dynamite late-inning guy, who should be equipped to pump 98-99 and hammer that curve all over guy. It would be a nice way to baby him through a season.

I really like Wood a lot better in the pen than as the 5th starter, and hope they don't end up trying Karns in the pen. I feel like having the power RH arm in the rotation would really balance it better (Duffy-Kennedy-Vargas-Karns-Hammel makes a lot of sense to me, in that each day you're seeing a very different style). Wood is so similar to Vargas in style, I don't love both in the rotation.

And hell, maybe the rotation ends up being Wood and Karns instead of Vargas. Nice to have some options and depth, and Jason is a good-enough team guy to do whatever the team needs.

[duncan_idaho]

Re: the 2014 playoffs... I didn't like the way Yost handled Game 4 in San Francisco, and he shouldn't have given Guthrie the 4th inning in Game 7.

A little more progressive thought in either of those games could have completely changed that series.

Running Herrera in the 4th and 5th, Davis in the 6th and 7th, and Holland in the 8th and 9th (and then turning to Finnegan or Duffy if necessary) would have swung that around a lot.

All in all, I've learned to deal with his tactical missteps. I know he's going to drive me crazy by being stubborn and foolish (IMO) at several points, but it has been beneficial often enough the past three years for me to just accept it.

[Prison Bitch]

Sale 15%
Duffy 16%


Go ahead CP and tell me what those #s represent.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Sale 15%
Duffy 16%


Go ahead CP and tell me what those #s represent.

I did a Google search and it looks like you're trying to buy a boat.

[DiaperBoy27]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Sale 15%
Duffy 16%


Go ahead CP and tell me what those #s represent.

The percentage of each pitcher you actually watch this season?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Sale 15%
Duffy 16%


Go ahead CP and tell me what those #s represent.

Swinging strike percentage?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Sale 15%
Duffy 16%


Go ahead CP and tell me what those #s represent.

How often they throw their changeups?

[Prison Bitch]

Some good guesses, I'll let this ride a short while longer.


Hint: if you wanted to beat them what would you do strategy-wise?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Some good guesses, I'll let this ride a short while longer.


Hint: if you wanted to beat them what would you do strategy-wise?

Foul off pitches/elevate PC... so is it foul ball percentage?


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